Written questions by Dhesi.

Food and Rural Affairs, who is the Chief Risk Officer for national security risks relating to the work of their Department.

The Department does not have a formally designated Chief Risk Officer for national security risks. As with other Lead Government Departments, each Defra-owned risk in the National Risk Register (NRR) has a designated Risk Owner who is responsible for that risk area in the Department. These risks are discussed internally by the Executive Committee. The Secretary of State and accounting officers are ultimately responsible for all risks Defra owns.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of grouping Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in regulation.

PFAS represent a group of thousands of chemicals, with hundreds used commercially across many sectors of industry and society. The structural diversity of PFAS poses a challenge to grouping. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) published an “Analysis of the most appropriate regulatory management options (RMOA)” for PFAS in March 2023. This RMOA addresses PFAS, that are potentially on the GB market, by applying a grouping approach to improve manageability and help address the issue of regrettable substitution. HSE’s Restriction Report on PFAS in firefighting foams, published in August 2025, takes a group approach on this basis, using the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD 2021) definition of PFAS.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to consult stakeholders on the development of the Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Plan.

The PFAS plan will set out a coordinated response for addressing risks relating to PFAS exposure, extending across government and industry. Engagement with stakeholders to date has been vital in informing policy, and we will use the plan as a platform to engage further with industry, other bodies, and the public on PFAS. In doing so, we hope to develop a collective set of actions and initiatives to address this shared challenge.

Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances are classified as Substances of Very High Concern.

The UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulations provide for a list of Substances of Very High Concern to be established. This list currently contains six entries relating to Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), each covering a group of PFAS.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps have been taken to ensure the adequate welfare of racing greyhounds.

The welfare of greyhounds in England is protected by the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The Act allows action to be taken where there is evidence of cruelty to an animal or a failure to provide for that animal’s welfare needs. Specific welfare standards at all greyhound racing tracks in England are also required by the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010. In addition to these statutory protections, the sport’s main regulatory body, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), has also undertaken several welfare reforms, including publishing a long term, national welfare strategy – ‘A Good Life for Every Greyhound’. The strategy focuses not only on reducing risks of injury but also developing new management practices to improve the welfare of greyhounds throughout their lives. The Government is monitoring GBGB’s progress in delivering the strategy. Should further measures be required the Government will consider options which are targeted, effective, and proportionate.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has been made of the potential impact of fireworks on the welfare of (a) livestock and (b) pets.

No specific assessment has been made of the potential impact of fireworks on animal welfare. However, the Government is continuing to engage with animal welfare stakeholders, businesses, consumer groups and charities on the impacts of fireworks, to inform any future action.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to create a national inventory to (a) capture and (b) report sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

This Government is actively considering its approach to managing the risks posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and progressing work on PFAS measures. To better understand legacy PFAS pollution, the Environment Agency (EA) has undertaken a risk screening project to identify potential PFAS sources which provides crucial information for the EA and its stakeholders to investigate and mitigate these risk issues.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to produce a chemicals strategy.

The delivery of a Chemicals Strategy was a commitment included in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2023. Defra’s future approach to chemicals management will be set out in the revised EIP.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to establish new statutory action standards for PFAS in drinking water.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate published a report on 26 February 2025 recommending revisions to some of the parameters listed in the drinking water regulations; this included a new standard for PFAS. Defra and the DWI will work together to consider potential regulatory updates to England’s drinking water quality legislation based on these recommendations. DWI have issued guidance to water companies on PFAS. Concentrations of ‘sum of 48 PFAS’ reported as greater than 0.1 micrograms (or 100 nanograms) must be reported to the DWI as a water quality event and all necessary actions to reduce concentrations below this value must be taken. There is no evidence of PFAS above 0.1 micrograms (or 100 nanograms) in drinking water supplies.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with local councils on improving street cleanliness.

I have not had any recent discussions with local councils on street cleanliness. My officials chair the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG), through which they engage with a wide range of interested parties such as local councils, National Farmers Union and others, to promote and disseminate good practice with regards to preventing fly-tipping. Local councils are responsible for keeping streets clear of litter and refuse. The Pride in Place Strategy sets out how Government will support local action by bringing forward statutory enforcement guidance on both littering and fly-tipping, modernising the code of practice that outlines the cleaning standards expected of local authorities, and refreshing best practice guidance on the powers available to local authorities to force land and building owners to clean up their premises. This Government also remains focused on delivering a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers due to go live in October 2027. Single-use drinks containers are some of the UK’s most commonly littered items. It is expected that providing a financial incentive for people to return their drinks containers through the Deposit Return Scheme will drastically reduce the amount of litter.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many officials were investigated under their Department's disciplinary processes in each of the last five years.

Defra’s casework data is held for three years from the date of case closure. Over the last three years, 139 officials were investigated under Defra’s disciplinary process. The 139 cases are broken down into the following: 2022 = 7 disciplinary cases were raised2023 = 33 disciplinary cases were raised2024 = 60 disciplinary cases were raised2025 to date = 39 disciplinary cases have been raised The information requested for 2020 and 2021 is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to help protect populations of the (a) House Sparrow and (b) Song Thrush in the South East.

This Government is committed to restoring and protecting nature. In England, we have four legally binding targets for biodiversity: to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030; to reverse declines by at least 10% by 2042, when compared with 2030; to reduce the risk of national species extinction by 2042; and to restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat, also by 2042. The actions to reach these targets will support our priority native bird species such as house sparrow and song thrush. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) will work together to drive action including to create or restore habitats that will enable wildlife to recover and thrive. In early 2024 we introduced mandatory biodiversity net gain, to ensure development has a measurably positive impact (a 10% net gain’) on biodiversity, compared to what was there before development. Responsible authorities are also required to consider national environmental objectives when preparing their LNRS, including the target to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030. LNRS will map specific proposals for habitat creation and improvement that will support many species, including the house sparrow and song thrush.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the use of snares on animal welfare.

Defra recognises many people in this country have concerns about the use of snares. Free-running snares are currently legal in England and are regulated by law. They must be checked at least once a day and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 prohibits the setting of any type of snare in places where they are likely to catch certain non-target animals. Anyone using snares also has a responsibility under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to ensure their activities do not cause wild animals or pets any unnecessary suffering. This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation and this included a commitment to bring an end to the use of snare traps in England. Defra is considering the most effective way to deliver this commitment and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps she has taken to ensure that imported meat products are slaughtered to animal welfare standards equivalent to those in the UK.

The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter. Under existing legislation, imports of meat must meet standards at least equivalent to welfare at slaughter requirements set out in assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to prevent the importation of low-welfare animal products.

The Government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections, food standards and animal welfare. We will promote robust standards nationally and internationally. All agri-food products must comply with our import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. This includes ensuring imported meat products have been slaughtered to animal welfare standards equivalent to our domestic standards. As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, the Government will not lower food standards and will uphold high animal welfare standards. We recognise concerns about methods of production, such as sow stalls and battery cages, which are not permitted in the UK. While methods vary in line with different climates, diseases, and other contextual reasons, we will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, we will be prepared to use the full range of powers at our disposal to protect our most sensitive sectors including permanent quotas, exclusions, and safeguards.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on trends in levels of fly-tipping in the (a) South East and (b) Slough.

There have been no recent discussions with the Environment Agency (EA) on trends in levels of fly-tipping in the South East and Slough. The EA is a member of the Defra-chaired National Fly-Tipping Group which aims to share best practice on tackling fly-tipping. Local authorities are required to annually report fly-tipping incidents and enforcement actions to Defra, which are published each year. These are available at Fly-tipping statistics for England - GOV.UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent support he has provided to local authorities to help tackle fly-tipping.

We want to see local authorities make good use of their enforcement powers and are taking steps to help them do so. For example, we are currently reviewing their powers to seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers to identify ways in which we help them make better use of this tool. Defra also chairs the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group through which we work with a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, to promote and disseminate good practice with regards to preventing fly-tipping. Various practical tools are available from their webpage which is available at: https://nftpg.com/. From 2026–27, the Government will deliver the first multi-year Settlement in a decade, fundamentally improving how we fund councils and directing funding to where it’s most needed. We’re committed to simplifying the wider local funding landscape by reducing the number of grants and consolidating them into the Settlement, so councils can plan more effectively. Detailed decisions will follow the funding reform consultation and be set out at the provisional Settlement later this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to help reduce plastic pollution in (a) rivers, (b) seas and (c) other waterways.

The Government is working domestically and internationally to implement measures that will prevent plastic from reaching the environment. Domestically, bans and restrictions on single-use plastic products, such as cutlery, straws, and polystyrene takeaway containers, plates and bowls have been introduced alongside the single-use carrier bag charge. The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers will introduce a deposit on single-use drinks containers which is redeemable when the empty container is returned. DRS will reduce plastic litter and increase recycling rates. The Government is considering what further steps are needed to help local authorities reduce litter and thus prevent it from entering and damaging our waterways and ecosystems. Plastic pollution is a global crisis that no country can solve alone. The UK is also working with international partners to conclude an ambitious and effective new international treaty to end plastic pollution which protects the environment and paves the way to a circular economy.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of fly-tipping on private land owners.

While no recent assessment has been made, we appreciate the difficulty and cost that fly-tipping poses to landowners and we are working with a wide range of interested parties through the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group, such as the National Farmers Union, to promote and disseminate good practice, including how to prevent fly-tipping on private land. We encourage local authorities to make good use of their enforcement powers which include prosecution. On conviction, a cost order can be made by the court so that a landowner’s costs can be recovered from the perpetrator.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities in (a) Slough and (b) the Thames Valley region on the implementation of mandatory digital waste tracking.

The department has had no recent direct discussions with local authorities in Slough or the Thames Valley region on the implementation of mandatory digital waste tracking. Information is shared with stakeholders including local authorities via our Circular Economy newsletter. Through this newsletter we have invited organisations to sign up to the project’s user panel to get involved in testing of the developing service and provide feedback.